Scientific Name
Amia calva
Other Names
Grinnel, Dog fish, Choupique, Cypress trout, Cypress bass, and Mud fish
Description
Bowfin have a flattened head with sharp teeth and a long, stout body with a long, distinctive dorsal fin. Their swim bladder, which extends the entire length of the body, is used as a lung. These fish surface to exhale and inhale air, replenishing the air in their swimbladder. A distinctive black spot bordered by orange or yellow is located just in front of the caudal fin on young bowfin and on most adult males. The back and sides are mottled olive green turning to a lighter green or a whitish color on the belly. All the fins are light green except for the dorsal and caudal fins, which are dark green. The green color of males is heightened during the spawning season. Bowfin usually reach weights of 1 to 3 pounds but can weigh over 20 pounds. Bowfin can grow to 25 inches in length and live up to 10 years.
Habits and Habitat
Bowfin prefer shallow oxbow lakes, sluggish rivers, and swamps and feed primarily on fish. They also eat crayfish, grass shrimp, frogs, and insects. Bowfin migrate into shallower areas and usually feed at night. They spawn in the spring when water temperatures are between 64ºF and 78ºF. Males build bowl-shaped nests, which are constructed in shallow, weedy areas. Bowfin are extremely tolerant of poor water quality and can survive in very poor habitats due to their ability to breathe air with their swim bladder.
State Record
Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record is 18 pounds 14 ounces, caught by B. H. Toney at Ross Barnett Reservoir in 1978.
Fishing Fact
Bowfin flesh is of poor quality and is rarely eaten. Bowfin eggs, however, are edible and sold worldwide as a less expensive substitute for sturgeon caviar. Bowfin are considered by many anglers to be one of the most aggressive fish to hook while fishing. Baits used for catching bowfin include nightcrawlers, minnows, frogs, crayfish, and artificial baits. Bowfin are often confused with the exotic snakehead fish. Bowfin have a small anal fin located on the belly, but snakeheads have a distinctive anal fin that is very long and similar to the dorsal fin.